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Author Topic: Complera - meal types and timings.  (Read 10776 times)

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Offline Delby

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  • Posts: 170
Complera - meal types and timings.
« on: February 20, 2013, 03:14:06 am »
Hi All

So I've been on Atripla for over 5 yrs now and I am going to change combo due to continual side effects. I seriously think its damaging my brain!

My doc wants me to go on complera. I was concerned abou having to weigh out 500 calories each day and worry about whether the meds are working because I may no be eating enough. But he said there is very little difference between fasting and fed. He said it will still work on 200 calories or even less. I'm confused as all the info on complera says it needs to be minimum 500 cals. Can anyone confirm this? Also what would happen if you were sick with a vomiting bug etc? The last thing you'd want is a huge 500 calorie meal.

The other question I had is how lenient is complera with timings? Does it need to be taken at exactly the same time every single day? With atripla i always take mine with a 1hr time frame so would be nice to do the same woth complera. Is it as forgiving?Hoping to hear from people so I can make my decision on which combo to pick.

Delby

Offline newt

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Re: Complera - meal types and timings.
« Reply #1 on: February 20, 2013, 03:49:53 am »
Alas, the food thing was not properly tested on Complera, but on the basis it was for Edurant, the component drug that needs food, your doc is incautious to say there is little difference between fasting and fed with this combo. The drug is approved for taking with 500 calories or so. But in truth how many calories precisely is unknown. He may be right that 200 is enough.

Note that most non-vegetarian sandwiches with butter/marg will have 450+ calories.

- matt
"The object is to be a well patient, not a good patient"

Offline RapidRod

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Re: Complera - meal types and timings.
« Reply #2 on: February 20, 2013, 09:34:22 am »
I've been on Complera since August and I take it about the same time everyday give or take an hour. As for taking it with or without food it hasn't mattered. I would recommend it over Atripla any day especially for those that are having problems. For 6 years I thought everyone felt like shit taking their meds until a brought it up with my ID Doctor who switched it to Complera, no comparison what so ever, no dizziness, no trouble sleeping, no upset stomach, no bouncing off the walls in the middle of the night to take a piss and it can be taken anytime of the day no different than taking my aspirin every night. What a life changer for me.   

Offline gadawg1979

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  • Posts: 142
Re: Complera - meal types and timings.
« Reply #3 on: February 24, 2013, 11:47:30 pm »
I just always take mine with dinner and there is not really an issue
Diagnosed March 2012
Initial CD4- 156 VL 200K (started Complera) Genotype test no resistance
First labs on meds CD4- 246 VL 2K Taken after 30 days on Complera
90 Day labs VL 306 No CD4 Drawn
8/21/2012 CD4 474 VL Undetectable (40) %20.6
11/27/2012 CD 4 522 VL Undetectable (40)
2/14/2013 CD 4 464 VL Undetecable (30) 19.6%
6/8/3013 CD 4 528 VL Undetectable (30)
9/24/2013 CD 4 546 VL Undetectable (40)
1/30/2014 CD4 560 VL Undetectable (40) 22 %
6/19/2014 CD4 584 Vl Undetecable (30)

Offline Delby

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  • Posts: 170
Re: Complera - meal types and timings.
« Reply #4 on: February 25, 2013, 02:20:08 am »
I just always take mine with dinner and there is not really an issue


My question is how many calories and also half life. My doc seems to think it will work just as well on 200 calories and will even work fasted (no food). However from reading so many other posts on here, it's clear that most people's doctors have advised a minimum of 400 calories. So I don't know who's advice to follow. I eat very healthily and have an allergy to milk, wheat and a few things. So 400 calories is a lot of food for breakfast when some things are off limit.

Also I wanted to know the half life of complera. Can you take it within 1hr each day or does it need to be exactly the same time each day - eg within a 15 minute time frame.

Hoping to hear back from some more people that are on complera. There must be more than 2 members on complera. Any advice appreciated people.

Delby

Offline Ann

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Re: Complera - meal types and timings.
« Reply #5 on: February 25, 2013, 04:56:33 am »
The component of Complera that needs food present in order to be absorbed is rilpivirine (Edurant). The other two meds in Complera are the same as in Truvada and don't need food.

If you look at the package insert for Edurant, it says nothing about 400 calories (and Edurant is usually prescribed with Truvada - hence the one pill option).

What it does say is that it needs to be taken with a meal that includes fat.

So what it basically means is that your stomach needs to generate the type of digestive fluids that break down fat in order to break down Edurant so it can be absorbed.

So yeah, a 200 calorie meal that is high in fat should suffice. The fat content is the key more so than the calorie content.

I would imagine that they're saying "400 calorie meal" for Complera instead of "a meal that includes fat" because many people balk at the thought of having a high-fat meal. It looks like a case of "dumbing down" their dosing information, erring on the side of caution.

The fat thing is a bit of a no-brainer when you think about it. It's well-known that a high fat meal when eaten too close to taking Sustiva (also in Atripla) will increase the side effects, because fat makes it more easily absorbed and thus increases side-effects. (Remember, Sustiva and Edurant are in the same NNRTI class.)

The usual dose of Sustiva is 600mgs, while the usual dose of Edurant is only 25mgs. That's a much lower dose to get into your system - and fat will facilitate the process.

As for half-life, I've never seen any exact figures where this combo is concerned. The general rule of thumb is to pick a time to take your meds and take them at least two hours either side of that specific time. That gives you a four hour window.

Once you've achieved an undetectable viral load, what matters the most is that you're taking your meds every day. It's best to take them around the same time, but it's nothing to get your knickers into a twist about provided you take them every day.

Obviously for people who are on a combo that includes a med that must be taken twice a day, it's important that it is taken twice a day as evenly spaced out as humanly possible.
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Offline Delby

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  • Posts: 170
Re: Complera - meal types and timings.
« Reply #6 on: February 26, 2013, 10:36:59 am »
The component of Complera that needs food present in order to be absorbed is rilpivirine (Edurant). The other two meds in Complera are the same as in Truvada and don't need food.

If you look at the package insert for Edurant, it says nothing about 400 calories (and Edurant is usually prescribed with Truvada - hence the one pill option).

What it does say is that it needs to be taken with a meal that includes fat.

So what it basically means is that your stomach needs to generate the type of digestive fluids that break down fat in order to break down Edurant so it can be absorbed.

So yeah, a 200 calorie meal that is high in fat should suffice. The fat content is the key more so than the calorie content.

I would imagine that they're saying "400 calorie meal" for Complera instead of "a meal that includes fat" because many people balk at the thought of having a high-fat meal. It looks like a case of "dumbing down" their dosing information, erring on the side of caution.

The fat thing is a bit of a no-brainer when you think about it. It's well-known that a high fat meal when eaten too close to taking Sustiva (also in Atripla) will increase the side effects, because fat makes it more easily absorbed and thus increases side-effects. (Remember, Sustiva and Edurant are in the same NNRTI class.)

The usual dose of Sustiva is 600mgs, while the usual dose of Edurant is only 25mgs. That's a much lower dose to get into your system - and fat will facilitate the process.

As for half-life, I've never seen any exact figures where this combo is concerned. The general rule of thumb is to pick a time to take your meds and take them at least two hours either side of that specific time. That gives you a four hour window.

Once you've achieved an undetectable viral load, what matters the most is that you're taking your meds every day. It's best to take them around the same time, but it's nothing to get your knickers into a twist about provided you take them every day.

Obviously for people who are on a combo that includes a med that must be taken twice a day, it's important that it is taken twice a day as evenly spaced out as humanly possible.

When you read the insert for complera it states:

'Taking one COMPLERA pill with a meal of 400 calories or more, at about the same time every day, is an important part of your daily routine. This helps get the right amount of medicine in your body.'

So i just don't understand how my doctor can say it will work on fasted or even 200 calories. He's a top ID doc in the UK as well, so he knows his stuff. So who's right? The manufacturer or my doctor?

Offline MarkB

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  • Posts: 292
Re: Complera - meal types and timings.
« Reply #7 on: February 27, 2013, 10:15:29 am »
This is a very helpful thread for me. After a bad time on Atripla - I won't bore you with the details - the clinic has prescribed me Eviplera (same as Complera?).

So: fatty meals. But what constitutes 'fat' (I'm fat enough as it is!). And how 'fatty' does the fat food have to be?

Any thoughts?


Offline Miss Philicia

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Re: Complera - meal types and timings.
« Reply #8 on: February 27, 2013, 11:53:22 am »
A simple toasted bagel w/butter is 495 calories and 23g of fat (or 35% of the RDA). Come on ladies, use your imagination.
"I’ve slept with enough men to know that I’m not gay"

Offline gadawg1979

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  • Posts: 142
Re: Complera - meal types and timings.
« Reply #9 on: March 05, 2013, 12:54:10 am »
A simple toasted bagel w/butter is 495 calories and 23g of fat (or 35% of the RDA). Come on ladies, use your imagination.

Thank you. I am on Complera and it is really not that hard to find a 400 cal meal.... For gods sake McDonald's
Diagnosed March 2012
Initial CD4- 156 VL 200K (started Complera) Genotype test no resistance
First labs on meds CD4- 246 VL 2K Taken after 30 days on Complera
90 Day labs VL 306 No CD4 Drawn
8/21/2012 CD4 474 VL Undetectable (40) %20.6
11/27/2012 CD 4 522 VL Undetectable (40)
2/14/2013 CD 4 464 VL Undetecable (30) 19.6%
6/8/3013 CD 4 528 VL Undetectable (30)
9/24/2013 CD 4 546 VL Undetectable (40)
1/30/2014 CD4 560 VL Undetectable (40) 22 %
6/19/2014 CD4 584 Vl Undetecable (30)

Offline Delby

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  • Posts: 170
Re: Complera - meal types and timings.
« Reply #10 on: March 05, 2013, 02:14:02 am »
You all seem to be missing the point. I have dietary restrictions - no wheat, diary etc so yes 400 calories is quite difficult to achieve for breakfast. A bowl of oats ain't going to make it and nor do I want to be eating half a dozen eggs every morning for obvious health reasons.

Most of you mention McDonalds but I eat healthy and don't touch any of that shit. Couldn't think of anything worse for breakfast than a McDonalds!

Offline Miss Philicia

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  • celebrity poster, faker & poser
Re: Complera - meal types and timings.
« Reply #11 on: March 05, 2013, 07:40:05 am »
No, I'm not missing the point. If the calorie issue is a deal breaker for you then why are you and your doctor not looking at another med regimen. As it is you're chasing your tail around this issue for over 2 weeks.
"I’ve slept with enough men to know that I’m not gay"

Offline Larsen

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Re: Complera - meal types and timings.
« Reply #12 on: March 05, 2013, 08:06:06 am »
Not being funny here, but a healthy diet would in any case mean starting the day with an intake of 400 to 500 calories to fuel you up.

A bowl of oats may not cut it, but if you have a cup of tea sweetened with honey, together with a bowl of cereal made up of say 3/4 cup soy nuts, 1/4 cup of raisins and 1/4 of oats and you'll be banging on the door of 500 calories.

The other thing is that if you are getting your treatment from a clinic with a "top ID doc", you will almost certainly have access to a professional dietician, who will be an expert at answering exactly this sort of quandary.
« Last Edit: March 05, 2013, 08:08:18 am by Larsen »
In a far better p[lace than this minging shithole

Offline britchick

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Re: Complera - meal types and timings.
« Reply #13 on: March 05, 2013, 08:14:57 am »
Im taking Eviplera too.The recommended calorie intake is 533 cals inc some fat.My consultant said I would be better to take it with lunch or dinner.The fat content is important for absorption.

You can still eat healthily too.If you have a salad you can have a mini treat afterwards to make up the cals!

Im obsessed with white bread such as ciabatta and  i cant eat it....soda bread is a good alternative.

Please let me know how you get on.


Britchickx
Britchickx

Offline camille07

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Re: Complera - meal types and timings.
« Reply #14 on: March 09, 2013, 03:11:29 pm »
I'm a fairly healthy eater also.  I just take it with my dinner.  It seems your still wondering about the half life.  My id doctor, who is considered one of the best in NJ, said to keep in a 2 hour window.

I think since this is really causing a lot of mental anguish, this might not be the best medicine for you.  Especially if, for some reason, you can't take it  exactly when you need to.

Offline Torchwood

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  • Posts: 66
Re: Complera - meal types and timings.
« Reply #15 on: March 19, 2013, 07:14:54 am »
The food thing is completely dependent on each individual person. You aren't supposed to tak Nexium and the like. I have such bad acid reflux that I am on a double dose of Nexium at night. I take my Complera in the morning. I usually don't anything for breakfast. Complera is working great for me in that regards.
Discovered 4/2006
VL: 1600
CD4: 1005
Started Complera 10/2011
VL: 48,500
CD4: 570
1/17/12
VL: Undetectable
CD4: 890
4/12
VL: Undetectable
CD4: 895
11/12
VL: Undetectable
CD4: 1193
4/12
VL: Undetectable
CD4: 1461
11/13
CD4: 1273
VL: Undetectable
5/14
CD4: 1788
VL: Undetectable
11/14
CD4: 1532
VL: Undetectable
5/30/15
CD4: 1313
VL: HIV-1 RNA Detected: < 40 copies/mL of plasma.

Offline sportnut216

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  • Posts: 1
Re: Complera - meal types and timings.
« Reply #16 on: April 19, 2013, 08:07:00 am »
Starting Complera today...... a little nervous but wish me luck!

Offline PAGuy

  • Member
  • Posts: 16
Re: Complera - meal types and timings.
« Reply #17 on: May 09, 2013, 06:59:14 pm »
Good luck!  I am starting on Complera today...wish me luck as well!
March 2012---tested positive
Started Atripla, Batrim DS, Amoxycillan
April 2012---cd4 49, vl 2,000,000
June 2012---cd4 296, vl 1294
Discontinued Batrim DS and Amoxycillan
Sept 2012---cd4 300, vl UD
March 2013---cd4 308, vl 53...minor blip! Cd%26
Switched to Complera

 


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